What Is Christian Meditation

My name is Jess Beilman.

I came to Insight Timer to meet my own spiritual needs and decided to stay as a teacher.

I have a doctorate in ministry.

I've been a professor of historic Christian spirituality.

Been ordained,

Currently pastor,

Write,

And teach in the Christian tradition.

A lot of Insight Timer users are curious about Christian meditation.

But have only encountered two stereotypes.

One,

Meditation is Eastern and therefore cannot be Christian.

Or meditation is simply thinking about Bible verses.

Many people.

Are surprised to learn that Christians have practiced meditation for nearly 2,

000 years.

Long before smartphones,

Podcasts,

And constant distraction,

Christian monks and mystics developed practices of silence,

Attention.

And presence.

That helped them become more aware of God in every day.

At its simplest,

Christian meditation is the practice of intentionally paying attention to God's presence.

Unlike prayer,

Which often involves speaking and asking and thanking or interceding,

Meditation emphasizes listening.

Rather than filling the mind with more thoughts.

Christian meditation creates space to notice what is already happening within us and around us.

Asking the question.

Where is God already at?

Many Christians meditate with scripture or a sacred word.

The breath,

Or simply silence.

In my tracks,

Videos,

And courses,

We'll use all of that.

What makes Christian meditation unique is not necessarily the technique.

Sitting quietly,

Paying attention to the breath,

Or cultivating awareness can be found in many traditions.

What makes a Christian is the relationship at the center of the practice.

Christian meditation is rooted in the belief.

That God is present.

And available.

And that we become more aware of that presence through the stillness and attention.

It's a practice that Henry Nouwen called the furnace of transformation.

The place where we are changed.

So I hope you'll join me in engaging with the spirit deeper through Christian meditation.